The Team
The Team at Animal Instincts Australia is made up of experienced and certified professionals (humans and 4 legged!)
All of our 2 legged team hold Yellow Disability Cards and Blue Cards, up to date First Aid & CPR Certifications and have completed the NDIS Workers Orientation Course. Animal Instincts Australia is fully insured.
We pride ourselves on our passion for professional development and our team are regularly attending and undertaking further education in the fields of human and animal studies including accredited courses and workshops.
Animal Instincts Australia has been registered since 2005 and has operated from the Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Western Downs and now we call Toowoomba home and are very settled here!
We also have our Charity Arm Outback Instincts which delivers our Youth Programs - www.outbackinstincts.org.au
All of our 2 legged team hold Yellow Disability Cards and Blue Cards, up to date First Aid & CPR Certifications and have completed the NDIS Workers Orientation Course. Animal Instincts Australia is fully insured.
We pride ourselves on our passion for professional development and our team are regularly attending and undertaking further education in the fields of human and animal studies including accredited courses and workshops.
Animal Instincts Australia has been registered since 2005 and has operated from the Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Western Downs and now we call Toowoomba home and are very settled here!
We also have our Charity Arm Outback Instincts which delivers our Youth Programs - www.outbackinstincts.org.au
Click below to see information on our Lead Facilitator, Directing Manager and Founder Hayley Chambers
Leanne Brooks
Facilitator and Youth Mentor
Coast, Town, Country
I grew up by the ocean in a place called Cronulla, Sydney NSW. I was lucky enough to have the stability of going to one primary school and one highschool. During my schooling years I spent a lot of time away from home with friends with horses. This is where I was taught to ride and basic horsemanship. Little did I know all those skills developed all that time ago would be put to good
use at Animal Instincts Australia.
Our household had lots of pets ranging from dogs, cats, birds, fish and rabbits while I was growing up.
After leaving school I was a young mum who still went to night school studying Fashion Design and later Tafe in the same subject. I eventually fell into working in Newsagencies throughout the Goldcoast & Brisbane suburbs, while again studying business and I stayed in this industry for approximately 24 years. My greatest achievement in this industry was running an investment store with full responsibility of rosters, staffing, office admin, stock ordering, invoicing etc.
By a chance meeting and a diversion into a totally different career field I started work in the disability sector in December 2019. Over the course of the last 4 years I have completed over 34 modules of learning to gain more experience and knowledge in this area of employment. Through another chance meeting via work, I met Hayley at the RSPCA, we clicked, and our boys clicked, then through COVID my good friend asked me to help her at AIA whilst staff were off sick during the pandemic and well………. I never left!
I have spent the last 2 years balancing support work and being a coach at Animal Instincts Australia, but something had to give. So 2024 will see me as a permanent fixture at Animal Instincts Australia as a fulltime coach and mentor.
You will also get to meet my animal crew containing of Rossi the Boerboel, Leroy the German Shephard adopted from AIA and Slater the slinky cat also fostered from AIA.
Working with your family members at this unique farm site has been an incredible journey so far, with many more years to come.
Facilitator and Youth Mentor
Coast, Town, Country
I grew up by the ocean in a place called Cronulla, Sydney NSW. I was lucky enough to have the stability of going to one primary school and one highschool. During my schooling years I spent a lot of time away from home with friends with horses. This is where I was taught to ride and basic horsemanship. Little did I know all those skills developed all that time ago would be put to good
use at Animal Instincts Australia.
Our household had lots of pets ranging from dogs, cats, birds, fish and rabbits while I was growing up.
After leaving school I was a young mum who still went to night school studying Fashion Design and later Tafe in the same subject. I eventually fell into working in Newsagencies throughout the Goldcoast & Brisbane suburbs, while again studying business and I stayed in this industry for approximately 24 years. My greatest achievement in this industry was running an investment store with full responsibility of rosters, staffing, office admin, stock ordering, invoicing etc.
By a chance meeting and a diversion into a totally different career field I started work in the disability sector in December 2019. Over the course of the last 4 years I have completed over 34 modules of learning to gain more experience and knowledge in this area of employment. Through another chance meeting via work, I met Hayley at the RSPCA, we clicked, and our boys clicked, then through COVID my good friend asked me to help her at AIA whilst staff were off sick during the pandemic and well………. I never left!
I have spent the last 2 years balancing support work and being a coach at Animal Instincts Australia, but something had to give. So 2024 will see me as a permanent fixture at Animal Instincts Australia as a fulltime coach and mentor.
You will also get to meet my animal crew containing of Rossi the Boerboel, Leroy the German Shephard adopted from AIA and Slater the slinky cat also fostered from AIA.
Working with your family members at this unique farm site has been an incredible journey so far, with many more years to come.
Annie Jackson
Hello, I’m Annie — a coach and youth mentor at Animal Instincts Australia.
I started here as an animal attendant and absolutely fell in love with the work, the animals and the community. Now I help run our youth programs for the charity, supporting young people as they learn new skills, build confidence and find their place on the property.
I’ve just finished Year 12 and spend most of my time outdoors — working with horses, helping on the farm, and learning as much as I can. I’m an ex-gymnast and currently compete in endurance riding.
I share my life with Amber, my lovely Kelpie, along with Franko and SJ, my horses who live here at Animal Instincts. I also have two cats, Nala and Duchess — both proud “foster fails”.
I’m continually building my skills and am currently learning about equine massage and hoof trimming. It’s a lot more complex than it looks, but I love the challenge and the chance to expand my knowledge.
As for the future, I’d love to take a year to ride the Bicentennial Trail with a close friend — all 5,330 km of it.
For now, I’m exactly where I want to be — outdoors, surrounded by animals, and helping young people every day.
Hello, I’m Annie — a coach and youth mentor at Animal Instincts Australia.
I started here as an animal attendant and absolutely fell in love with the work, the animals and the community. Now I help run our youth programs for the charity, supporting young people as they learn new skills, build confidence and find their place on the property.
I’ve just finished Year 12 and spend most of my time outdoors — working with horses, helping on the farm, and learning as much as I can. I’m an ex-gymnast and currently compete in endurance riding.
I share my life with Amber, my lovely Kelpie, along with Franko and SJ, my horses who live here at Animal Instincts. I also have two cats, Nala and Duchess — both proud “foster fails”.
I’m continually building my skills and am currently learning about equine massage and hoof trimming. It’s a lot more complex than it looks, but I love the challenge and the chance to expand my knowledge.
As for the future, I’d love to take a year to ride the Bicentennial Trail with a close friend — all 5,330 km of it.
For now, I’m exactly where I want to be — outdoors, surrounded by animals, and helping young people every day.
We are a proud member of the following organisations....
